Jam commented on Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside
Mr. Carroll,

Thank you for your reply. Understanding your intentions does help me process the book in a different light, but I am not entirely sure your critique came through subtly in the text. I was hoping Gulliard would have more of a foil in Daniel, but it was a bit muddled. I will say that the writing was engaging enough to keep me reading to the end, but I guess I didn’t feel satisfied at the ending (and I don’t require happy endings, just ones that make me sit back and keep thinking).

However, your technical proficiency is very, very good, and the book had very interesting moments. I would look forward to reading more from you in the future as you grow as an author. Forgive me if any of my comments come across as cruel--internet comments are a poor medium.

I have copied my review onto Amazon.

Best regards,
Jam
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    Jam commented on Up to the Mountains and Down to the Countryside
    The writing in this book is, technically, very well done. I bought it based on the strength of the first sentence alone. However, I have to say that after finishing reading it today, I am sorely disappointed by the actual storytelling itself. I wish that Inkshares had a ranked review function, so that I could add a negative review.

    While the syntax and voice are at times excellent, the characterization and plot are sorely lacking. Characters move about in their world without any apparent motivation. Entire scenes are tedious and go nowhere. One of the characters--the one that the book starts with--is a generally unpleasant and even creepy man, and it is hard to follow along with his story only to end up realizing that neither he nor anyone else in the story experiences any meaningful character growth or change at all. One of the final plot-moving events toward the end is predictable and uninspired even as it appears out of nowhere, seemingly out of character for the instigator. Although I suppose I should be thankful there even was a climactic conflict at all, despite how heavily it relied on tired and misogynistic tropes.

    Further to this, the casual sexism/misogyny that saturate the book became too much for me, after a while. One wonders if Carroll intended for female readers to enjoy this book at all. At first I thought the sexist outlook would be unique to the one specifically unpleasant character, but it saturates the book as a whole. Women exist in this story only as either eye candy, sex toys, clueless comic relief, or annoying troublemakers and liars. The author seems to equate describing a woman as beautiful or ugly as some kind of character development. It is not.

    I intend to get rid of my copy of the book as it is not something I have any interest in reading it ever again.
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      Jam commented on Slothlove
      I am a very proud owner of a physical copy of this book! It is GORGEOUS and I am so glad that we made the goal and got it published!!

      I also just managed to download the ebook I ordered years ago. Thanks for everything!

      Thanks,
      Jam
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